Cal Poly Arts will host the Mark Morris Dance Group at the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Tuesday, May 10. The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. but will be preceded by a pre-show lecture in the PAC Pavilion at 6:30 p.m.
Mark Morris, the choreographer, has been performing for more than 30 years.
“He really set a trend for bringing and showing modern dance, the classic beauty and formality of it that helped us appreciate it at the same level of music,” said Diana Stanton, a Cal Poly dance professor and leader of the pre-show lecture.
By encompassing different elements of music into his dance — one defining feature being live music — Morris appeals not only to the visual facets of dance, but also to the emotional ones.
“He focuses on rhythm, harmony, melody, and also the nuisance of emotional aspects of it,” Stanton said.
Sometimes people perceive modern dance as abstract and complex to understand. However, Stanton said Morris’ choreography makes the audience experience an emotion and makes dance more understandable to the average observer.
The performance will “leave (the audience) feeling moved, like after a movie or hearing a song that stays with you,” according to Stanton.
Staff and student tickets can be purchased on the PAC’s website for $24-48. Student rush tickets will be sold one hour before the show for $10.